Stethoscope



April 23, 1963 N. w. HAAS 3,086,610

STEITHOSCOPE Filed June 22, 1961 to Sttes This invention is directed to a stethoscope and is particularly concerned with a hinge arrangement for the head tubes.

In stethoscopes used for magnifying sounds the head tubes have formerly been formed with an integral fiat spring to exert a biasing force between them. However, when the stethoscope is not being used, this construction results in an instrument that is bulky and difficult to store as it takes up considerable room. This is a particular problem in the medical profession when it is desired to maintain the instrument on the person, such as by placing it in the pocket. Since the type of instrument used is not able to be changed into a more compact assembly, this results in the instrument projecting dangerously out of the pocket, and in many instances the user will continue to wear it around the neck even though it is not in use.

In accordance with the present invention this problem of compactness is solved by ,a special hinge arrangement between the head tubes which allows the instrument to be folded onto itself into a compact assembly that is easily carried or stored.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stethoscope that is easily carried or stored.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stethoscope having parts that can be folded over each other to form a compact assembly.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a stethoscope having a double hinge assembly between the head tubes to allow said head tubes to fold over parallel to each other and the hinge bars when the stethoscope is not in use.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a stethoscope having curved bars between the head tubes to arch under the chin and thus allow the head tubes to be shorter, so that all component parts of the device are of approximately the same length.

It is another object of the invention to provide a stethoscope that has a comfortable fit when in use and a compact shape when not in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional stethoscope;

FIG. 2 is a View, partly in section, similar to FIG. 1 showing a stethoscope illustrating the embodiment of the present invention in the operational position;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line III-III of FIG. 2; and

PEG. 4 is a view of the stethoscope of FIG. 2 in the folded position with the rubber tubing and listening devices not shown for clarity.

In considering the present invention it is first referred to the conventional stethoscope of FIG. 1 which includes the usual head tubes 11 having attached ear pieces 12 at the proximal end of each head tube. On the other end of each head tube or head piece 11 fits rubber tubing 13 which has the usual listening device or chest piece 14 attached at the remote end. Connected between the head tubes 11 is a fiat spring 16. The spring 16 provides a tilt biasing force so that when the operator spreads the head tubes 11 to place the ear pieces '12 in his ears, such force will maintain the ear pieces in place. However, when the stethoscope it) is not being used, it presents a cumbersome elongated assembly that is difficult to store away. At best, the rubber tubing 13 can be folded over itself so that the listening device 14 swings between the head tubes 11. However, the full length of the head tubes 11 is unchanged, and if the operator wishes to place the stethoscope 10 in his pocket, this length is so long that the stethoscope will protrude from the pocket in the way of movement and is likely to fall therefrom. That is why doctors and other users of Stethoscopes are often seen wearing the stethoscope with the head tubes around the neck when not in use rather than to place the stethoscope in the pocket.

In the improved stethoscope shown in FIG. 2 the head tubes 2i curve inwardly at one end to receive ear pieces 22 mounted thereon. The other end of the head tubes 21 are mounted within ends of rubber tubing 23, and the rubber tubing 23 is fastening onto a listening device 24.

Between the ends of each head tube 21 in connecting relationship adjacent the rubber tubing connection is mounted a double hinge arrangement. Preferably the double hinge is attached to the head tubes 21 by a cuff 25 terminating on its inside in a flange 26. This cuff 25 is best seen in FIG. 3 as a circular shaped mounting around head tube 21 and having a gap 27 between its outside edges to allow engagement with head tube 21 to be loosened by spreading the edges apart or tightened by moving the edges together so that the cuff 25 can be adjustably clamped on head tube 21.

Since cuff 25 has this adjustable feature, it will be seen that the cuff assembly can thus be positioned at any desired location along the head tube 21 to assure a comfortable fit between the ears and the chin for the operator.

The double hinge arrangement is seen to comprise a pair or" curved bars 29 pivotally fastened at their ends by rivets 28 to the top and bottom of each flange 26. As seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 the curved bars 29 form the double hinge between head tubes 21 by being pivotally mounted on the rivets 28. Each bar 29 is mounted at is ends on the same side of a flange 26 with one end on a top rivet and the other end on a bottom rivet. As seen in FIG. 3 the bars 29 are therefore spaced from and parallel to each other. It should be pointed out that the use of a cuff and its adjustability feature is merely a preferred embodiment since it affords a sturdy connection for the flange 26. However, it is understood that other connecting devices could be used for the flange connection, and they need not be adjustable.

A biasing means is attached between the cuffs 25, 25. As shown in the present embodiment this biasing means comprises a semi-circular wire 32 depending adjacent the end of each bar 29 at each upper pivot point to which a spring 33 is hooked so that as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the spring 33 extends from the end of one bar to the opposite end of the other bar. For protective purposes an elastic tube 34 covers the spring, although in FIG. 2 this elastic tube 34 is partly broken away for clarity to show the spring.

Each bar 29 is concavely curved with respect to the ear piece 22. This allows the bars 29 to comfortably fit below the chin of the operator when the stethoscope is being used.

From a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the present invention allows the use of substantially parallel head tubes 21 in the operative position. This enables the head tubes to lie in a compact folded position as shown in FIG. 4. Such construction is not seen in the conventional stethoscope shown in FIG. 1 where the head tubes are bowed in at the location of the flat Spring to avoid a prohibitively large flat spring.

When the operator, such as a doctor, uses this improved stethoscope, it will be in the position shown in FIG. 2. The ear pieces 22 are placed in the ear, and the listening device 24 is placed against the object to be listened to. In this position the spring 33 is extended in a biased condition and tends to pull the ear pieces 22 toward each other. This maintains the stethoscope in place around the operators head. When the stethoscope is not being used, the spring tension will force the ear pieces 22 and the attached head tubes 21 further toward each other, and the head tubes 21 thereupon fold over each other into the position shown in FIG. 4. The folding of head tubes 21 is first effected by the ear piece ends moving past each other. This is possible due to their remote location from the double hinge pivots which provide sufficient relative transverse movement to allow the passage. It will be appreciated from the showing in FIG. 4 that when the head tubes 21 are completely folded, flanges 2.5, 25 become slightly offset with respect to each other to allow for this folding. It is understood that such passage and oifset is further provided for by the usual built-in spring or give of the type of metal used in stethoscope devices of this nature. In the FIG. 4 position it is seen that the entire head tube assembly occupies a minimum space. This will be seen by comparing the height of the assembly in FIG. 4 with the height of the same assembly in FIG. 2. Since the rubber tubing 23 and listening device can be folded up alongside the head tube assembly, it will be seen how the entire stethoscope can easily fit into the pocket of the user or be place in a minimum storage space.

Accordingly, it is seen that an improved stethoscope has been described which is eflicient in use and foldable by a double hinge assembly into a compact assembly when not in use.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and described is to be considered illustrative only. The present invention includes such other modifications and equivalents as may readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A foldable stethoscope having a pair of head tubes connected to flexible tubing terminating in a listening device, each head tube having a curved end on which is mounted an ear piece, the remainder of each said head tube being substantially straight, at flange mounted adjacent the other end of each said head tube, each flange having a pair of spaced pivot points longitudinally located with respect to said head tubes, a first bar connected with the stethoscope in open position between the one pivot point nearest the ear piece on one flange to the one pivot point farthest from the ear piece on the other flange, a second bar connected between the one pivot point nearest the ear piece on said other flange to the one pivot point farthest from the ear piece on said one flange, said bars spaced in parallel relation to each other along their entire length and concavely shaped with respect to said e ar pieces, and biasing means connected between said flanges 4 to force the ear pieces toward each other, said head tubes being foldable past each other about said double pivot points into longitudinal superimposed alignment with each other.

2. A foldable stethoscope having a pair of head tubes connected to flexible tubing terminating in a listening device, each head tube having a curved end on which is mounted an ear piece, the remainder of each said head tube being substantially straight, a flange mounted adjacent the other end of each said head tube, each flange having a pair of spaced pivot points longitudinally located with respect to said head tubes, a first bar conneoted with the stethoscope in open position between the one pivot point nearest the ear piece on one flange to the one pivot point farthest from the ear piece on the other flange, a second bar connected between the one pivot point nearest the ear piece on said other flange to the one pivot point farthest from the ear piece on said one flange, said bars spaced in parallel relation to each other along their entire length and concavely shaped with respect to said said ear pieces, and biasing means connected between said flanges to force the ear pieces toward each other, said biasing means comprising a spring having one end attached to one end of the first bar and its other end attached to the opposite end of the second bar, said head tubes being foldable past each other about said double pivot points into longitudinal superimposed alignment with each other.

3. A foldable stethoscope having a pair of head tubes connected to flexible tubing terminating in a listening device, each head tube having a curved end on which is mounted an ear piece, the remainder of each said head tube being substantially straight, a flange heing adjustably clamped adjacent the other end of each said head tube, each flange having :a pair of spaced pivot points longitudinally located with respect to said head tubes, a first bar connected with the stethoscope in open position between the one pivot point nearest the ear piece on one flange to the one pivot point farthest from the ear piece on the other flange, a second bar connected between the one pivot point nearest the ear piece on said other flange to the one pivot point farthest from the ear piece on said one flange, said bars spaced in parallel relation to each other along their entire length and concavely shaped with respect to said ear pieces, and biasing means connected between said flanges to force the ear pieces toward each other, said biasing means comprising a spring having one end attached to one end of the first bar and its other end attached to the opposite end of the second bar, said head tubes being foldab-le past each other about said double pivot points into longitudinal superimposed alignment with each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,120 Gaslcins Aug. 24, 1886 1,466,825 Foord Sept. 4, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 580,594 Germany July 13, 1933 

1. A FOLDABLE STETHOSCOPE HAVING A PAIR OF HEAD TUBES CONNECTED TO FLEXIBLE TUBING TERMINATING IN A LISTENING DEVICE, EACH HEAD TUBE HAVING A CURVED END ON WHICH IS MOUNTED AN EAR PIECE, THE REMAINDER OF EACH SAID HEAD TUBE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT, A FLANGE MOUNTED ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF EACH SAID HEAD TUBE, EACH FLANGE HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED PIVOT POINTS LONGITUDINALLY LOCATED WITH RESPECT TO SAID HEAD TUBES, A FIRST BAR CONNECTED WITH THE STETHOSCOPE IN OPEN POSITION BETWEEN THE ONE PIVOT POINT NEAREST THE EAR PIECE ON ONE FLANGE TO THE ONE PIVOT POINT FARTHEST FROM THE EAR PIECE ON THE OTHER FLANGE, A SECOND BAR CONNECTED BETWEEN THE ONE PIVOT POINT NEAREST THE EAR PIECE ON SAID OTHER FLANGE TO THE ONE PIVOT POINT FARTHEST FROM THE EAR PIECE ON SAID ONE FLANGE, SAID BARS SPACED IN PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER ALONG THEIR ENTIRE LENGTH AND CONCAVELY SHAPED WITH RESPECT TO SAID EAR PIECES, AND BIASING MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FLANGES TO FORCE THE EAR PIECES TOWARD EACH OTHER, SAID HEAD TUBES BEING FOLDABLE PAST EACH OTHER ABOUT SAID DOUBLE PIVOT POINTS INTO LONGITUDINAL SUPERIMPOSED ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER. 